xiv, 357 pages ; 21 cm

Mr. Bartlett's volume, like the others in the series, contains the text in the New English Bible. After a general introduction to the book as a whole, the text is given in short passages, with a commentary directly following each. These Jewish historical works, the two books of the Maccabees, were written to describe the struggles of the Jews in the second century B.C. against the encroachment of the Greek way of life and against the political domination of the Syrians. The particular purpose of this commentary is to bring out the political and religious motives of the various parties to the struggle. The world is very conscious of the struggle of minority groups against alien masters and alien cultures, and 1 and 2 Maccabees have much to say to those who wish to understand the problems of small groups or nations with strongly held convictions. - Back cover

Includes bibliographical references (page 348)

The footnotes to the N.E.B. text -- The world of the Maccabees -- The dating of events in 1 and 2 Maccabees -- The Syrian administration -- Ancient writers who describe this period -- The First Book of the Maccabees -- The original text and its date -- The author's approach to the work -- The historical value of 1 Maccabees -- The author -- Antiochus and the Jewish revolt -- The war under Judas and Jonathan -- Jonathan rules the nation -- The high priesthood of Simon -- The Second Book of the Maccabees -- The original text and its date -- The author's approach to the work -- The historical value of 2 Maccabees -- The author -- Foreword : Letters to the Jews in Egypt -- Preface to this abridgement -- Syrian oppression of the Jews -- The revolt of Judas Maccabaeus -- The campaign against Eupator -- The victory of Maccabaeus over Nicanor -- The value for us of 1 and 2 Maccabees -- A note on further reading

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